We have our work cut out for us in the coming years. The threats to critical affordable and supportive housing programs that serve the poorest households and those with disabilities are real and significant. Become involved in planning the 2018 Congressional Reception!

NJCounts 2019

All twenty-one New Jersey Counties will be counting individuals and families who were homeless – both sheltered and un-sheltered - on the night of Tuesday January 22, 2019.This annual census is conducted by networks of organizations, agencies and others that plan community efforts to end homelessness and is coordinated by Monarch Housing on the statewide level.

The goal of the second Annual Homeless Sabbath is to engage as many congregations of all faiths to include readings in their service(s) held on December 15th, 16th and 17th, 2017, at their respective house of worship. Click here to register online to participate.

Reforms to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae Must Preserve Significant Expansion of National Housing Trust Fund

Congress is beginning to turn its attention to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae housing finance reform legislation. And the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) has joined a coalition of national civil rights and fair housing organizations in support of comprehensive legislation that promotes access and affordability in the housing market.

This new coalition agrees that any reforms of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae mus:

preserve the entities’ affordable housing mission and the availability of inclusive loan products and services, including a significant expansion of the national Housing Trust Fund.

Legislation has not been formally introduced. But a draft bill crafted by Senators Bob Corker (R-TN) and Mark Warner (D-VA) would have capped funding for the national Housing Trust Fund to as low as $440 million – far less than the $3.5 billion proposed in legislation approved by the Senate Banking Committee in 2014.

The draft bill would divert funding away from extremely low income households through the Housing Trust Fund into a Market Access Fund to support home-ownership activities for households with relatively higher incomes.

The draft bill would also eliminate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s affordable housing goals and Duty to Serve obligations. If Senators Corker and Warner introduce legislation that is similar to the draft version, NLIHC will strongly oppose the bill.

The Housing Trust Fund is one of Monarch Housing Associate’s policy priorities for creating homes families can afford and ending homelessness in New Jersey. We aim to protect and fund the Housing Trust Fund by opposing any legislative or administrative attempts to prevent Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from providing funding for the Housing Trust Fund or to prevent its future implementation.